Concrete-metal railway-tie.



L. R. GIFPORD. CONCRETE METAL RAILWAY TIE. APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 17, 1907.

975,855s Patented Nov` 15, 1910.

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CONCRETE-METAL RAILWAY-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

Application filed August 17, 1907. Serial No. 388,946.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, LESTER R. GIFFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Westmont, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete-Metal- Railway-Ties; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in-v vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists of a new and novel improvement in concrete-metal ties and the object of the invention is to produce a tie of suliicient bulk and weight to insure it against any shifting of position, due to the action of passing trains, when laid on curves or other variable roadbeds, also to combine expanded metal and concrete in such manner as to form a homogeneous structure that will not disintegrate under the hammering influence of the trains, and at the same time be capable of distributing the train loads over a sutlicient area of the roadbed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rigid and substantial rail-seat which also constitutes a part of the main body of the tie, to provide means whereby the rails can be secured to a wooden block embedded in the concrete, and to decrease the bearing surface of the tie at the center in order to prevent it from becoming center bound.

In general, my invention consists of a concrete tie reinforced by expanded metal, the end sections being solid and trapezoidal in cross section. The longest side of the trapezoid is used as a base to provide a substantial bearing surface for the superimposed loads, they central or intermediate section of the tie being of the same general cross section as the ends, with the exception that a portion of it is hollowed out, as `shown in the drawings. The tie is reinforced for its entire length by a steel plateof any suit-4 able thickness which is solid under the rail and for a short distance on each side of the same, the remainder of said steel plate being expanded, thereby permitting the concrete on either side of it to form a perfect bond. The steel plate is embedded in the concrete for the full length of the tie, except under the rails, where the concrete on top of the plate is omitted, thus allowing the rail to bear on the plate directly. The

central portion of the tie is hollowed out, in order to decrease the bearing area of this section and to lighten the tie.

'the form of steel reinforcement is such that it will tie the concrete together and prevent cracking under the shock to which the tie is subjected, and at the same time no more material is used than is actually necessary. The tie cannot be cut by the rail flange. In order that the cost may be as low as possible and the weight of the tie may not be too great, blast furnace cinder may be used in the concrete, instead of the sand and bro-ken stone generally employed. A' tie of the construction described has a longer life than a wooden tie, but may be as easily and effectually tamped. A reinforced concrete tie may also be provided with any form of rail-fastener desired, while various forms of spikes or bolts are generally used with wooden ties.

Having thus given a general description of my invention, I will now, in order to make the same more clear, refer to the drawings which form part of this specification and in which like figures refer to corresponding parts.

Figure l is a top plan View of my im proved concrete-steel tie, the right-hand portion of which is shown with the outside layer of concrete removed, exposing a portion of the expanded plate. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tie showing the central or hollowed-out portion in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3--3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2 with a section of the rail in elevation. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the expanded part of the plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail, l represents that portion of the tie which is formed of concrete, said tie being reinforced by a metal plate, bent into the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and embedded therein.

The numeral 2 represents that portion of t-he plate which is expanded, and 3 that portion which is solid, the latter being intended to provide a bearing surface for the rails. The solid metal portion also extends downwardly through the sides of the tie and is provided with openings 4, in order that the parts may be securely bonded together. In referring to the metal plate the term solid is therefore intended to distinguish that portion of the plate which is not expanded, from the expanded portion.

The tie itself is so constructed that its cross section is in the form of a trapezoid as shown in- Figs. 3 and 4. 'Ihat portion of the plate which supports the rail. is exposed on its upper sides and is provided with rectangular openings 5 for the spikes 6 driven into the wooden blocks 8 embedded in the concrete. The rail 7 bears on the solid portion 3 of the plate, as illustrated by dotted lincs in Fig. l.' Any other form ofV railfastener may of course be used.

rl`he tie is formed with a hollow underside as shown at S), in order to reduce the bearing surface, thereby preventing binding at the center, and also in order to reduce the weight. The lower outer edges of the tie are rounded, to facilitate the operation of tamping under the tie.

Although I have shown and described my improved tie in considerable det-ail, I do not wish to be restricted to the exact form specified, but may use such modifications, substitutions or equivalents, as fall within the scope of my invention, as set forth in the claims.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure y by Letters Patent is:

l. A railway-tie of concrete reinforced by a steel plate consisting of solid sections constituting rail-seats and a section of ex panded metal integral therewith.

2. A railway-tie of concrete, reinforced by a steel plate consisting ofv solid sections constituting rail-seats with openings therein for rail-fasteners, and a section of expanded metal integral with said solid section.

8. A railway-tie of concrete reinforced throughout its length by an expanded metal plate provided with solid sections forming rail-seats.

4. A railway-tie of concrete reinforced throughout its entire length and sides, with an expanded metal plate provided with solid sections forming rail-seats.

5. A railway-tie of concrete reinforced throughout its length and sides with a metal plate provided wlth sections forming railseats, said sections having openings therein for rail-fasteners.

6. A railway-tie of concrete reinforced by a metal plate consisting of solid sections constituting rail-seats, said sections having openings therein for rail-fasteners and extending over the upper surface of the tie and downwardly through the sides thereof, and a section of expanded metal integral with said solid sections.

7 A railway-tie of concrete reinforced by an expanded metal plate having solid sections forming railseats, said tie having a hollow central portion on its Linder side.

8. A railway-tie of concrete having the form of a trapezoid in cross section, an eX- panded metal reinforcing plate embedded therein and having integral solid sections forming rail-seats said seats being in substantially the same plane as the remainder of the reinforcing metal.

9. A railway-tie of concrete having the form of a trapezoid in cross section, a metal reinforcing plate bent substantially parallel to the top and sides of the tie embedded therein, said plate consisting of solid sections forming rail-seats and an expanded metal section.

l0. A railway-tie of concrete having the form of a trapezoid in cross section, a metal reinforcing plate embedded therein, said plate consisting of solid sections forming rail-seats and having openings therein for rail-fasteners, said solid sections extending over a portion of the upper surface ofthe tie and downwardly through the concrete body portion of the sides thereof, and an expanded metal section connecting the solid sections and reinforcing the remainder of the upper portion and the sides of the tie.

l1. In a railway-tie of concrete, a'metal reinforcing plate embedded therein, said plate consisting of solid sections forming rail-seats and having openings therein for rail-fasteners, said solid sections extending over a portion of the upper surface of the tie and downwardly through the concrete body portion of the sides thereof, bonding holes in said downwardly projecting part, an expanded metal section connecting the solid sections and reinforcing the remainder of the upper portion and sides of the tie, and wooden blocks embedded in the concrete body portion.

In testimony whereof I hereto afx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LESTER R. -GIFFORD lVitnesses:

vWM. J. FITZHAURICE, J r., CYRUS E. BROWN. 

